Professional artist Hilarie Couture began drawing at the age of two, using a purple crayon to dress the women in her dad's Playboy magazines. Living in an abusive home, she would retreat into her closet and draw faces that resembled Margaret Keanes' sad-eyed kids from the sixties, ballet dancers, and horses.
Hilarie's love of art continued through high school. She was awarded a scholarship to attend Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in fashion design and medical illustration. However, she quit, discouraged, having attended only pre-med classes and no art. Desiring to live the life of an artist, she hitchhiked to San Francisco to draw portraits on the streets. One day she traded a portrait for a haircut and was convinced to become a hair designer—a "real" job. She abandoned her drawing skills for over thirty-five years.
Later, Hilarie became an auctioneer, appraiser, and realtor, owning a combination salon-auction gallery/antique mall. These careers provided a creative outlet and income but still, Hilarie yearned for more, and at age 55, she earned a degree in historic building preservation. One class required her to paint a mural that won an award. Her instructor said she "missed her calling" and should have been doing art all along. That was the catalyst that brought Hilarie back to fine art painting.
Hilarie describes what motivates and inspires her to paint: "The history of my life informs what I do; every trial and triumph translates to the canvas. I believe that painting portraits and figures gives me what I have always strived for—a connection with people, and to feel loved and validated. In choosing to paint people, I realize certain truths: facial recognition is the first form of communication, and somehow for me, painting subconsciously resolves the difficult relationship I had with my mother. The intimacy that flows from the sitter to the artist, to the viewer forms a very personal bond. Through faces, paintings tell THEIR stories —as well as MINE."
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Afternoon at Sauvie Afternoon at Sauvie
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Barbara Holding the Fruit Basket Barbara Holding the Fruit Basket
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Happy Anniversary Happy Anniversary
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Sassy Little Ladybug Sassy Little Ladybug
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Through Thin Veils Through Thin Veils
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Wistful Wistful
https://www.paintingcontest.org/prospectus/judges/377-judge-professional-artist-hilarie-couture#sigProIdfde9e641f2
For more information about Hilarie Couture and to view her works, visit https://www.hcouturearts.com
SOLO SHOWS
2020 Explorations in Paint and.... , solo show Attic Gallery ,Camas , Washington
2019 Intertwinings, guest artist Jansen Art Center, Lynden, Washington
2017 Founding Mothers, Book signing and final show , Cascade Park Library, Vancouver, Washington
2017 Founding Mothers, Book signing and show , Three Creeks Library, Vancouver, Washington
2017 Locals Show Invitational, Attic Gallery, Camas, Washington
2017 Touchmark, Vancouver, Washington
2017 Founding Mothers, Ft. Vancouver Visitors Center, Vancouver, Washington
2017 Terwiliger Plaza, Geezer, Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2017 That Which is Beauty, Mt. Hood Community College Fireplace Gallery, Gresham, Oregon
2016 People, Place or Thing, Lava Java Coffee shop, Ridgefield, Washington
2016 Tour of Founding Mother’s Portraits of Progress, Clark County Historical Museum and other locations, Vancouver, Washington
2016 Aurora Gallery, featured artist, February, Women and their Exotic Animal Spirits, Vancouver,Washington
2015 Artsy Shark, featured artist, online
2015 Broadway Gallery, Guest Artist, month of February, Art From My Heart , Longview, Washington
2014 Muse Art and Design, People and Places of Portland, Portland, Oregon
2014 Second Story Gallery, Les Femmes et les Fleurs Camas, Washington
JURIED PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS
2019 Pastel society of North Carolina International Show
2019 NW pastel Society International Show, American Art Company , Tacoma, Washington
2018-2019 Featured artist August 2019 Splendorporium gallery monthly shows, Portland,Oregon
2018 Nwpastel Society members show, Kirkland, Washington
2018 Nwpastel society International show, American Art Company , Tacoma, Washington
2018 International Pastel Society Show, American Art Company, Tacoma, Washington
2018 Celebration of Creativity ,Beaverton, Oregon
2018 Scottsdale Artists School , Best and Brightest 2018 show, Scottsdale artists School, Scottsdale , Arizona
2017 Holiday Small Works Show , National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Cathy Kline Gallery , Parkville , Missouri
2017 Northwest Pastel Society Members Show, Portland, Oregon
2017 Northwest Pastel Society, International Show, American Art Company, Tacoma, Washington
2016 Women Artists of the West, Annual Show, Fredricksburg, Texas
2015/2017 Peoples Art, Big 500 show, Portland, Oregon
2015 Clark County Open Studios, Vancouver, Washington
2015 Broderick Gallery, Longview ,Washington, Regional Artists
2014 NOAPS National oil and Acrylic Painters Society Best of America Show, Bolivar and Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
2014 Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver, Washington
2014 NOPG Northwest Oil Painters Guild, Hanging at the Summit, Ridgefield, Washington
2014 Rose Festival Show, Oregon Society of Artists, Portland, Oregon
2014 Aurora Gallery, featured artist, Vancouver, Washington
2014 Cascade Aids Project Art Auction, Portland, Oregon
2013 Senior Show, Sixth Floor Gallery, Vancouver, Washington
2013 Camas Art Gallery, Camas, Washington
2012 Gallery 360, Vancouver, Washington
2012 Portrait Show, North Bank Gallery, Vancouver, Washington
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 Group shows RJ art Gallery, Mc Minnevile, Oregon
2018 Group Show Pathways, Christmans Gallery, Sellwood, Oregon,
2017 Locals Show, Attic Gallery, Camas, Washington
2016 Northwest Oil Painters Guild Annual show, Vancouver, Washington
2016/2018 Society of Washington Artists Spring Show , Vancouver, Washington
2016 For the Love of Portland, Peoples Gallery, Portland ,Oregon
2015 Toys, Aurora Gallery, Vancouver, Washington
2015 Portrait Society show, U.S. Bank, Portland, Oregon
2015 Northwest Oil Painters Guild Annual members show, Vancouver, Washington
2015 Clark County Fair, Vancouver, Washington
2015 Trillium Gallery on line published in their monthly magazines
2015 Lakewood Festival of the Arts Open Show, Lake Oswego, Oregon
2015 Society of Washington Artists Open Show, Vancouver, Washington
2014 Art Factors, Alla Prima Portland, Portland, Oregon
2014 SWA Spring Show, Vancouver, Washington
2014/ 2018 Battleground Art Alliance Spring Show , Battleground, Washington
2013 Battleground Art Alliance Spring Show, Battleground, Washington
2013 Harvest Days Festival, Battleground, Washington
2013 Art and Wine Festival, Vancouver, Washington
2013 SWA Spring Show, Vancouver, Washington
2013 Lakewood Festival of the Arts Open Show, Lake Oswego, Oregon
2012 Hillsboro Plein Aire Show , Walters Cultural Center , Hillsboro, Oregon
2012 Art in the Garden ,Golden Gallery, Beaverton, Oregon
2012 Art in the Heart , Vancouver, Washington
2012 Squared Show Hillsboro, Oregon
2012 Lakewood Open Show ,Lake Oswego, Oregon
2012 Art in the Business, Vancouver, Washington
AWARDS
2020Bold Brush Fav 15
2019 Bold Brush Fav 15 and outstanding Pastel Finalist
2018 Nw Pastel Society members show, jurors award
2018 Nw Pastel Society International show, jurors award
2018 Bold Brush fav 15
2017 Bold Brush fav15 and outstanding pastel finalist
2017 Art Muse Contest, Finalist Emerging Artist August /September
2017 Heaven Art Gallery, first place Love category, Scottsdale, Arizona
2016 Northwest Oil Painters Guild Annual Show , first Place, Third Place and Sponsor award, Vancouver, Washington
2016/2018 Society of Washington Artists Spring show, Best of show, 2nd Place oil painting, 3rd place , Vancouver, Washington
2015 Oil Painters Guild Annual Show, Best of show, 2 Sponsor awards, Vancouver, Washington
2015 Clark County Fair, first place, Vancouver, Washington
2015 Lakewood Festival of the Arts, Blue Ribbon, Lake Oswego, Oregon
2015 SWA Society of Washington Artists, first place oil painting, Vancouver, Washington
2014 NOAPS Best of America Show, Best People Painting award, Bolivar , Missouri
2014 NOPG Hanging at the Summit, honorable mention, Vancouver, Washington
2014 Rose Festival Show , third place, Portland, Oregon
2014 SWA Society of Washington Artists Spring Show, Best of Show , third place , honorable mention and sponsor award, Vancouver, Washington
2018-2014-2013 -2012 Battleground Art Alliance Spring Show, sponsor award, honorable mention , Battleground, Washington
2013-2012 Washington Society of Artists Spring and Fall show , sponsor award ,honorable mention, Vancouver, Washington
2012 North Clackamas Art Show ,third place pastel , Milwaukee, Oregon
2010 Celebration of Learning, second place, acrylic ,Belmont Technical College, St. Clairsville, Ohio
2010 Emerging artist, Oglebyfest, pastel and charcoal portraits, Wheeling, West Virginia
For more information about Hilarie Couture and to view her works, visit https://www.hcouturearts.com